Garment



B. V. GOULD Jan. 1, 1957 GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1954 FIG.

ATTORNEYS B. V. GOULD Jan. 1, 1957 GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1954 INVENTOR. BARBARA V. GOULD ATTORN EYS GARMENT Barbara V. Gould, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to galliinous Fit, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Application April 14, 1954, Serial No. 423,128 4 Claims. or. 2-43 This invention relates to a foundation garment and, more particularly, to a panty girdle which effectively molds the figure and provides firm support without interfering with bodily activity and without riding up.

Heretofore foundation garments have generally depended on garters and stockings for restraint against their tendency to ride up, such tendency being particularly evident when the wearer sits down or engages in active sports. Such arrangements are only partly effective due to stretching of the stockings. To avoid the necessity of wearing stockings in order to anchor down foundation garments, panty girdles have heretofore been provided having crotch pieces designed to engage the crotch to anchor the garment down. Chafing and discomfort re sult from such arrangements which are also only partly effective because the portions of the garment adjacent the lower sides of the hips tend to ride up despite any anchoring effect of the crotch piece on the more central portions of the garment. Still other garments depend on a low cut at the bottom of the garment for anchoring against riding up. This anchoring is effective only when the wearer remains relatively inactive. Such garments tend to cut and are extremely uncomfortable.

When the wearer sits down, conventional foundation garments tend to be further tightened around the body, thus tending to push the flesh either upward over the top of the garment, creating a roll and interfering with breathing and digestion, or downward, causing an ugly bulge in the back of the garment.

Garments such as those described above are particularly inconvenient in that they must either be rolled down off the hips of the wearer or released from stockings and raised in order to permit the wearer to urinate or eliminate.

The present invention provides a foundation garment which avoids the disadvantages outlined above. A foundation garment is provided which provides excellent control of the lower abdomen and buttocks and which resists tendencies to ride up without being cut so low as to cut or be uncomfortable, and without depending on being anchored by stockings or crotch pieces. It is a particular advantage of my invention that the above objects are achieved even while the wearer may be engaged in active exercise or sports.

Another advantage of my garment is that it is so con structed that tension is partially relieved when the wearer sits down, thus avoiding the difiiculties common to prior foundation garments which tend to tighten when the wearer sits down.

Another advantage of my garment is its convenience. The garment I have provided may function as an under panty, no separate under panty being required. At the same time the garment does not interfere with urination or elimination and does not have to be partially removed or unfastened on such occasions.

Perhaps the outstanding advantage of the invention is that firm foundation support is provided without binding or limitation of stretch even in contorted positions of the wearer while at the same time the garment is securely anchored against riding up, even in such contorted positions.

In general, I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages by providing a girdle which is essentially comprised of pairs of panels and associated legpieces which are fabricated and combined in such a way as to constitute and function as a pair of substantially independent bands with reversing spiral extensions which bands are criss-crossed in front and back of the wearer as will become clear below.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an isometric front view of a arment embodying my invention. Figures 2-8 are similar views of belts and panels fabricated in various manners and are intended as an aid to understanding the significance and functioning of the garment construction shown in Figure 1. Figures 2 and 3 include a portion of a torso.

As shown in Figure 1, I provide two panels or bands of wide webs of elastic material, 10 and 11, the two bands being interfitted and set at angles to each other so that the endmost portions of each band overlap each other at the front and back of the garment. The overlapping endmost portions are tacked to each other by zig-zag stitching (or an equivalent stitching which will allow stretching of the co-tacked webs even in the direction of the line of tacking) as indicated at 12. Preferably, one of the panels, such as 11, is adjacent the skin of the wearer in the back at the overlapped portion while the other panel, such as 10, is adjacent the skin of the wearer in the front at the overlapped portion. This assures equal distribution of skin friction by having either a front or rear portion of each band,- in addition to its side portion, against the skin of the wearer. On the inside of thepanels or bands 10 and 11, respectively, are elastic legpieces 20 and 21, each of which is sewn, preferably with zig-zag stitching, to its respective panel along edges 24 and 25. Conventional garter tabs may depend from the points 29 on the panels or bands 10 and 11, such tabs being omitted for clarity of illustration. To make the points 29 more on a common level and to provide a more pleasing appearance, the lower center front of each panel 10 or 11 may be cut lower than illustrated to lay over most of the front portion of each legpiece 20 or 21, which portion in Figure 1 is illustrated as exposed. In such case, the legpieces 20 and 21 may be shortened by the amount of the laid-over portion and joined to their associated panels closer to the vertical center of the garment than illustrated. Such lower cut is not illustrated for purposes of clarity.

The bands or panels 10 and 11 are disposed in such a way that each, substantially independently of the other, acts as a sling supported on one hip and confining and restraining the opposite thigh and buttock and being retained in position by its associated legpiece 20 or 21 around which the natural lines of tension or stretch pass. To make this clear Figures 2-8 have been included in the drawings.

In Figure 2 a torso is illustrated around which pass two oppositely extending reverse spiral elastic bands so and 31 which are completely independent of each other. If these bands are under some tension it will be seen that the uppermost portions 32 of each band will be caught on one hip while the lower reverse spiral extension 33 of each band will be caught on the inside of the opposite thigh and under the opposite buttock. Neither band will restrain the other even when the torso is moved violently. The paths of the predominant lines of tension and stretch are indicated by doubleheaded arrows.

In Figure 3 a wider band 40 and legpiece 41 are pro- 3 vided. The legpiece 41 constitutes a separate band fixed within the band 40 along a line 42. The band 40 will be seen to be apparently equivalent to the band 30 except that it is broader, providing greater gripping; and support. The band 41 is similarly equivalent to the spiral extension 33. The same band is shown in Figure 4 removed from the torso but in the same position. The paths of the predominant lines of tension and stretch are indicated by double-headed arrows. It will be noted that the arrows 43 and 44 cross in the vicinity of the line 42. To make the band 40 and legpiece 41 most closely equivalent to the band 30 and spiral extension 33, it will be seen that the Stitching along the line 42 would be zig-zag or an equivalent stitching which would allow stretching of the co-tacked webs even in the direction of the line of tacking.

The band 50 and legpiece 51 shown in Figure 5 will be seen to be equivalent to band 40 and legpiece 41 shown in Figure 4. The band 50 has been broadened to cover more of the upper hip, and the legpiece 51 is not formed as a complete loop but as a partial loop. Again, paths of predominant tension and stretch are shown by doubleheaded arrows. It should be noted that arrows 53 and 54 preferably each cross a line of tacking of one of the ends of the legpiece 51 at a normal angle. Thus, to maintain the reverse spiral tensioning effect it is not strictly necessary to utilize zig-zag stitching at such lines of tacking, though to do so will be preferable.

In Figure 6 the belt 50 shown in Figure 5 has been cut off at the upper end. In Figure 7 the rear of the belt 60 has been broadened to bring it well down over one buttock. In Figure 8 the belt shown in Figure 7 has been combined with a similar belt derived from the belt 31 shown in Figure 2. It will be clear that the upper cutoff portion of each belt or panel shown in Figure 8 is replaced functionally by the mating belt or panel so that each panel is supported as a sling over one hip in a manner functionally identical to the sling-like support illus trated in Figure 2.

The garment shown in Figure l is identical to that shown in Figure 8, with the exception that in Figure 1 a crotch piece 27 has been added. The crotch piece 27 is stitched to the converging portions of the panels 10 and 11 as shown and also is stitched to and extends between the legpieces 20 and 21. The rear edge of the crotch piece 27 is well back in the crotch as at 28 when the wearer is in normal standing position. The crotch piece 2 7 and the legpieces 20 and 21 may be cut or formed from a single piece for maximum comfort. They are illustrated as separate pieces for purposes of clarity. It should be noted that the function of the crotch piece 27 is solely to replace an underpantie and prevent chafing. It has no effect toward holding the garment down. Nor does the garment exert an upward strain on hosiery when the wearer bends or sits or takes long steps. Downward or anchoring tension is exercised exclusively by the leg bands.

It will thus be understood that the overlapping of panels 10 and 11 in front and rear provides effective support and restraint of the lower back and, abdomen of the wearer while maintaining the crossed bands or panels effectively independent of the other in the same sense as are belts 30 and 31 in Figure 2. Because the crossed bands are effectively independent of each other and can shift obliquely with respect to each other in the area where they are crossed, the garment restrains and confines the covered areas of the body while effecting a minimum of restraint on the movements of the wearer. The garment may thus be worn without appreciable interference under slacks and shorts and similar apparel during acting exercise.

The frontmost and rearmost portions of panels or bands 10 and 11 may be extended upward so as to overlap around a greater portion of the waistline for additional support. They may also be modified to overlap around less of the waistline or only at one top point at or somewhat below the waistline. The top edges of the frontmost and backmost overlapped portions may be left untacked for greater ease and comfort. At some cost to firmness of abdominal support, overlapping of the panels may be eliminated altogether, the panels being merely joined by a substantially vertical seam.

The predominant lines of tension and stretch in the portions of the bands 14} and 11 worn above the pelvis run in a direction approximating the direction of the external and internal oblique muscles of the abdomen; simultaneously, the crossed portions of the bands which may extend below the top of the pelvis and across the abdomen exert a confining and uplifting action on the whole lower abdomen. The garment tends to fit snugly above and below the hips of the wearer, and at the same time may be cut high at the groin. The bottom edge of the garment does not tend to cut into the thighs of the wearer or produce a girdle line evident through outer clothing.

The structure of the garment illustrated in Figure l is such that if the wearer straightens the leg covered by the legpiece 20 associated with the panel 10, as when she stands up from a sitting position, this action puts tension on the panel 10 over the abdomen and back and on panel 11 over the hip opposite to the legpiece 20. A similar tension is exerted by the legpiece 21 on the panels 11 and 10, and the garment is pulled or anchored down. Conversely, as she bends to sit down and her thighs or upper legs begin to fold toward her trunk, this action relieves the tension on the panels over the hips, abdomen and back and permits the flesh to spread to the sides, thus providing extra comfort while sitting. In this manner my garment avoids the difficulties common to prior foundation garments which tend to tighten when the wearer sits down due to increased tension down over the buttocks. This hinging action of the present garment is freer than any achieved in the prior art, since the legpieces are free of all connection with parts of the garment which are in snubbing or constraining engagement with the fleshy buttocks, and it is in this sense that the legpieces may be stated to be caught under the buttocks of the wearer, in sharp distinction to the garment structure shown in Smith U. S. Patent 2,441,451. It is in this sense that the word caught is used in the appended claims.

The lower rear edge of the garment may be cut somewhat higher than illustrated, the illustrated low cut having been shown for purposes of clarity and to minimize interference between the various lines in Figure 1. It will be apparent that the rear of the wearers crotch is free of interference in sitting position, so that no partial removal or unfastening of the garment is necessary in order to eliminate. Furthermore a slight spread of the legs will cause the crotch piece 27 joining the legpieces 20 and 21 to stretch and become narrower so that there is no possibility of interference with urination.

It will be seen that variations from the illustrated arrangement of the overlapping front and rear portions are possible. It will also be understood that my garment may include one or more openings in the form of hooks and eyes, laces and the like, for maternity use and the like. Further, the panels and legpieces need not consist of elastic material only, but may be made up of combined elastic and inelastic sections. These and other possible modifications demonstrate that the invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiment disclosed, but may be varied and modified within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A figure controlling garment comprising a. first wide panel of elastic material extending around one hip portion of the garment from the front to the back of the garment, a second wide panel of elastic material extending around the other hip portion of the garment from the front to the back of the garment, said panels being joined together in front and back, a legpiece of elastic material associated With each of said panels, each legpiece comprising a looped band extending within the lower hip portion of its associated panel, each panel and its associated legpiece being co-joined and respectively positioned and formed to comprise means for yieldingly bearing tension, when the garment is worn, along a reverse spiral path extending along the front of each panel transversely and downwardly to the rear portion of the associated legpiece, thence around the legpiece to the front thereof and thence transversely and upwardly along the back of each panel, the reverse spiral path along each panel and its associated legpiece being rendered continuous by the hip-engaging portion of the opposite panel, the legpieces being formed to be caught under the buttocks of the wearer to provide free hinging action of the legpieces with respect to the panels to minimize additional tension over the buttocks and riding-up of the garment incident to folding of the wearers legs toward the trunk, as in alternate sitting and standing.

2. A figure controlling garment comprising a first wide panel of elastic material extending around one hip portion of the garment from the front to the back of the garment, a second wide panel of elastic material extending around the other hip portion of the garment from the front to the back of the garment, said panels being joined together in front and back, a legpiece of elastic material associated with each of said panels, each legpiece comprising a looped band extending within the lower hip portion of its associated panel, each panel and its associated legpiece being co-joined and respectively positioned and formed to comprise means for yieldingly bearing tension, when the garment is worn, along a reverse spiral path extending along the front of each panel transversely and downwardly to the rear portion of the associated legpiece, thence around the legpiece to the front thereof and thence transversely and upwardly along the back of each panel, the reverse spiral path along each panel and its associated legpiece being rendered continuous by the hip-engaging portion of the opposite panel, and a crotch piece extending between the upper edges of said legpieces at the front portions thereof, the legpieces being formed to be caught under the buttocks of the wearer to provide free hinging action of the legpieces with respect to the panels to minimize additional tension over the buttocks and riding-up of the garment incident to folding of the wearers legs toward the trunk, as in alternate sitting and standing.

3. A figure controlling garment comprising a first wide panel of elastic material extending around one hip portion of the garment from the front to the back of the garment, a second wide panel of elastic material extending around the other hip portion of the garment from the front to the back of the garment, said panels overlapping each other in front and back and being tacked together along lines of tacking capable of longitudinal stretch whereby said panels may shift obliquely to each other even at their overlapped portions, a legpiece of elastic material associated with each of said panels, each legpiece comprising a looped band extending within the lower hip portion of its associated panel, each panel and its associated legpiece being co-joined and respectively positioned and formed to comprise means for yieldingly bearing tension, when the garment is worn, along a re verse spiral path extending along the front of each panel transversely and downwardly to the rear portion of the associated legpiece, thence around the legpiece to the front thereof and thence transversely and upwardly along the back of each panel, the reverse spiral path along each panel and its associated legpiece being rendered continuous by the hip-engaging portion of the opposite panel, the legpieces being formed to be caught under the buttocks of the wearer to provide free hinging action of the legpieces with respect to the panels to minimize additional tension over the buttocks and riding-up of the garment incident to folding of the wearers legs toward the trunk, as in alternate sitting and standing.

4. A figure controlling garment comprising a first wide panel of elastic material extending around one hip portion of the garment from the front to the back of the garment, a second wide panel of elastic material extending around the other hip portion of the garment from the front to the back of the garment, said panels overlapping each other in front and back and being tacked together along lines of tacking capable of longitudinal stretch whereby said panels may shift obliquely to each other even at their overlapped portions, a legpiece of elastic material associated with each of said panels, each legpiece comprising a looped band extending within the lower hip portion of its associated panel, each panel and its associated legpiece being co-joined and respectively positioned and formed to comprise means for yieldingly bearing tension, when the garment is worn, along a reverse spiral path extending along the front of each panel transversely and downwardly to the rear portion of the associated legpiece, thence around the legpiece to the front thereof and thence transversely and upwardly along the back of each panel, the reverse spiral path along each panel and its associated legpiece being rendered continuous by the hip-engaging portion of the opposite panel, and a crotch piece extending between the upper edges of said legpieces at the front portions thereof, the legpieces being formed to be caught under the buttocks of the wearer to provide free hinging action of the legpieces with respect to the panels to minimize additional tension over the buttocks and riding-up of the garment incident to folding of the wearers legs toward the trunk, as in alternate sitting and standing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,561 Storm July 10, 1906 1,281,538 Dupuy Oct. 15, 1918 1,584,434 Colley May 11, 1926 2,446,590 Hill Aug. 10, 1948 2,441,451 Smith May 11, 1948 2,640,196 Gould June 2, 1953 2,652,566 Allen Sept. 22, 19 53 FOREIGN PATENTS 726,254 Germany Oct. 9, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES Corset and Underwear Review, 111 Fourth Avenue, New York 3, New York. (Issue of July 1954, page 20 relied upon.) 

